Lampedusa Island Webcam
March 22, 2009
Lampedusa belongs to Italy and is the largest of the Pelagie Islands, situated 205 km from Sicily and 113 km from Tunisia. Lampedusa is also known as being the gateway from Europe to Africa.
The Isola dei Conigli (literally ‘Island of Rabbits’), which is close to the south coast of Lampedusa, is one of the last remaining egg-laying sites in Italy for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, which is endangered throughout the Mediterranean. Next to Parise Cape is a small beach accessible only by sea, through a low grotto.
Historically, Lampedusa was a landing place and a maritime base for the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. The Romans established a plant for the production of the prized fish sauce known as garum. As a result of pirate attacks by the Arabs, the island became uninhabited.
The first prince of Lampedusa and Linosa was Giulio Tomasi, ancestor of the famous writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, who received the title from Charles II of Spain in 1630. Giuseppe Tomasi is most famous for his only novel, Il Gattopardo (first published posthumously in 1958, translated as The Leopard) which is set in Sicily during the Risorgimento.
Ascension Island Webcam
October 10, 2008
Ascension Island is an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, around 994 miles from the coast of Africa. It is a dependency of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, which is 800 miles to the south east. The Portuguese explorer João da Nova is believed to be the first person to discover the island (in 1501), but did not report it.
A volcanic peak rising from just west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, much of the island is a wasteland of lava flows and cinder cones; no fewer than forty-four distinct craters have been identified. Off the east coast of Ascension is the tiny island of Boatswain Bird Island. It is a haven for sea birds, to get away from the rats, cats and people that came to Ascension Island from Europe and Africa.
The island hosts one of five ground antennas (others are on Kwajalein, Diego Garcia, Colorado Springs and Hawaii) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational system.
Réunion Island Webcam
September 28, 2008
Réunion is an island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 km (130 miles) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island. Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas départements of France.
The Piton de la Fournaise, a shield volcano on the eastern end of Réunion Island, has erupted more than 100 times since 1640 and is under constant monitoring. It most recently erupted on 4 April 2007. The slopes are heavily forested. Cultivated land and cities like the capital city of Saint-Denis are concentrated on the surrounding coastal lowlands.
Réunion also has three calderas: the Cirque de Salazie, the Cirque de Cilaos and the Cirque de Mafate. The last is accessible only by foot or helicopter. In 2005 and 2006 Réunion was hit by a crippling epidemic of chikungunya, a disease spread by mosquitoes.
Six more live Réunion cameras located here.
Agadir Maroc Webcam
September 2, 2008
The city is located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, near the foot of the Atlas Mountains, just north of the point where the Souss River flows into the ocean.
Agadir is an important fishing and commercial port, the first sardine port in the world, (exporting cobalt, manganese, zinc and citrus). It is also a seaside resort with a long sandy beach. Because of its large buildings, wide roads, modern hotels, and European-style cafés, Agadir is not a typical city of traditional Morocco, but it is a modern, busy and dynamic town. The word Agadir means in Berber “Fortified Granary”.
This group of three camera locations offers exceptional views of the coastal area!
Cape Town South Africa Webcam
April 12, 2008
Cape Town was originally developed as a victualling (supply) station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, India, and the Far East more than 200 years before the construction of the Suez Canal in 1869. Jan van Riebeeck’s arrival on 6 April 1652 established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa.
Cape Town is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Often regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities because of its geography. This is an impressive collection of cameras, and viewing the sunrise from the top of Table Mountain is a magical experience.
Seychelles Islands Camera
March 15, 2008
Watched a stormy sunrise in the Seychelles islands today. Two pop-up motion jpeg windows to pick from. Watch the coastline or the local fish market. I watched both cameras for about two hours. There are some interesting people wandering these beaches.
The fish market is one busy place. I enjoy the fact the same workers are on duty at the same stations every day. This is an active place to work or shop. Notice the bunches of what look like bananas in the background.
Longonot Webcam Kenya
February 22, 2008
Deep in the heart of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya lies a dormant volcano, Mt. Longonot (9,111 ft above sea level) derived from the Masai word O-Loo-Nong’ot, meaning ‘of the valleys’. Straddling the slopes of Longonot and bordering Hell’s Gate National Park to the West, (which a million years ago formed the dramatic outflow of fresh water from Lake Naivasha) lies the Great Rift Valley.
This camera, a gift from the RVA class of 2005, is terrific for watching a great variety of cloud formations. Also watch the 24hr slide show and the archive of unusual shots.
